10.6 Health Attributes
Studies have revealed that apart from providing nutrition, flaxseed can exert beneficial health effects in the prevention and treatment of various diseases and disorders.
Flaxseed has been found useful in preventing heart diseases, dyslipidemia, diabetes
mellitus, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, several kinds of cancer, and constipation
and also favorably affects immunity (Singh et al. 2011). The therapeutic attributes of
flaxseed are mainly because of the presence of three major bioactive compounds,
namely, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fibers (soluble and insoluble), and lignans
(Goyal et al. 2014).
10.6.1 Reduction of Dyslipidemia and Cardiovascular
Disease
Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease are the serious concerns among the
noncommunicable diseases and are the causes of mortality of a large number of
people. High cholesterol level is a major precursor for endothelial dysfunction,
atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. The effectiveness of flaxseed in lowering serum lipid or controlling hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis is mainly due to
its components and fatty acid profile as reported by several researchers (Kristensen
et al. 2011; Khalesi et al. 2011; Leyvaa et al. 2011). Reducing serum cholesterol
level, platelet aggregation, and inflammatory markers and acting as an antioxidant
(Ridges et al. 2001; Bloedon and Szapary 2004; Dupasquier et al. 2007) are the
mechanisms by which flaxseed protects against cardiovascular disease. The major
lipid component of flaxseed oil is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which further metabolized by enzymes cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase to ecosanoids, prostaglandins
(E3 series), and leukotrienes having anti-inflammatory responses (James et al. 2000;
Funk 2001; Kaur et al. 2012) leading to protection against CVDs.
10.6.1.1 Effect of Fiber
Soluble fiber reduces total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol by enhancing gastric
emptying, altering transit time, interfering with bulk phase diffusion of fat, and
increasing excretion of bile acids (Kritchevsky 1995).
10.6.1.2 Effects of Lignans
Modulation of enzymes such as 7α-hydroxylase and acyl Co-A cholesterol transferase involved in cholesterol metabolism, by lignan, may directly lower serum cholesterol (Prasad 1999). Studies have demonstrated the ability of SDG to scavenge
260
S. Ganguly et al.
Studies have revealed that apart from providing nutrition, flaxseed can exert beneficial health effects in the prevention and treatment of various diseases and disorders.
Flaxseed has been found useful in preventing heart diseases, dyslipidemia, diabetes
mellitus, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, several kinds of cancer, and constipation
and also favorably affects immunity (Singh et al. 2011). The therapeutic attributes of
flaxseed are mainly because of the presence of three major bioactive compounds,
namely, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fibers (soluble and insoluble), and lignans
(Goyal et al. 2014).
10.6.1 Reduction of Dyslipidemia and Cardiovascular
Disease
Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease are the serious concerns among the
noncommunicable diseases and are the causes of mortality of a large number of
people. High cholesterol level is a major precursor for endothelial dysfunction,
atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. The effectiveness of flaxseed in lowering serum lipid or controlling hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis is mainly due to
its components and fatty acid profile as reported by several researchers (Kristensen
et al. 2011; Khalesi et al. 2011; Leyvaa et al. 2011). Reducing serum cholesterol
level, platelet aggregation, and inflammatory markers and acting as an antioxidant
(Ridges et al. 2001; Bloedon and Szapary 2004; Dupasquier et al. 2007) are the
mechanisms by which flaxseed protects against cardiovascular disease. The major
lipid component of flaxseed oil is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which further metabolized by enzymes cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase to ecosanoids, prostaglandins
(E3 series), and leukotrienes having anti-inflammatory responses (James et al. 2000;
Funk 2001; Kaur et al. 2012) leading to protection against CVDs.
10.6.1.1 Effect of Fiber
Soluble fiber reduces total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol by enhancing gastric
emptying, altering transit time, interfering with bulk phase diffusion of fat, and
increasing excretion of bile acids (Kritchevsky 1995).
10.6.1.2 Effects of Lignans
Modulation of enzymes such as 7α-hydroxylase and acyl Co-A cholesterol transferase involved in cholesterol metabolism, by lignan, may directly lower serum cholesterol (Prasad 1999). Studies have demonstrated the ability of SDG to scavenge
260
S. Ganguly et al.